EP1472465B1

EP1472465B1 - Shearable fastener

Info

Publication number: EP1472465B1
Application number: EP03700936A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gary Barnett
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics UK Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics UK Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-06
Filing date: 2003-01-27
Publication date: 2007-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-27
Also published as: ES2297120T3; US20050130489A1; CN1628221A; EP1472465A1; ATE380301T1; ZA200405185B; WO2003067102A1; US7214108B2; DE60317877D1; GB0202710D0; DE60317877T2; AU2003202079B2; AU2003202079A1; CN100549436C

Abstract

A shearable fastener has a threaded shank adapted for engagement with a threaded bore and a head portion formed for engagement with a drive tool, the shank being formed with a series of axially separated weakenings defining a series of shear planes. The weakenings are formed such that the applied torque necessary to cause the shank to shear increases progressively from the shear plane furthest from the head portion to the shear plane nearest the head portion. The weakenings are holes, grooves or slits formed in the shank and the radius at the bottom of the holes, grooves or slits is varied to produce or contribute to the increase in shear torque.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in fasteners, in particular to improvements in shearable fasteners. Such fasteners are particularly suitable for securing electrical conductors to electrical connectors.
Electrical connectors are widely used for the joining of two or more electrical cables or conductors. One form of such connector comprises a body with blind bores into which the end of the conductors are inserted. Each conductor is fixed in place by threaded fasteners which are engaged with threaded bores in the wall of the blind bore and which hold the conductor against the opposite internal face of the bore. Commonly, such fasteners have shearable heads which break off at a certain predetermined applied torque. This prevents excessive, and possibly damaging, force being applied to the conductor and also results in the assembled joint having a reasonably smooth profile.
Known systems of the type described above suffer from the disadvantage, however, that because the conductors joined together using the connector may be of various different sizes, it is necessary for the shearable fasteners to be produced in a corresponding range of lengths in order to ensure that the assembled joint has the desired smooth profile. This means that a fitter must carry a suitable supply of all different sizes and can result in mistakes being made and inappropriate fasteners being used.
British Patent Application No. GB 2281599 describes a threaded fastener which, when applied using a special tool, is arranged to shear at an axial position along its length corresponding to the surface of an electrical connector, with which it is engaged. However, such a fastener can only be used in conjunction with such a special tool.
European Patent Publication No. EP-A-0819222 (B&H005), corresponding to US-A-6 042 430 , on which the preambles of both independent claims 1 and 2 are based, describes an improved fastener which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above mentioned disadvantage, without the need for special tools, when used in an electrical connector comprising first and second connector parts between which an electrical conductor may be received, and a threaded fastener engageable with a threaded bore in the first connector part such that the fastener may engage the conductor, either directly or through an intermediate component, and secure the conductor against the second connector part, the fastener having a threaded shank adapted for engagement with a threaded bore and a head portion having drive formations for engagement with a drive tool, the shank being formed with axially separated weakenings defining a series of shear planes, wherein said drive formations are formed such that, in use, a series of said weakenings are incapable of being supported by the drive tool and the weakenings in said series are formed such that the applied torque necessary to cause the shank to shear increases progressively from the shear plane furthest from the head portion to the shear plane nearest the head portion.
To facilitate understanding of the present invention, the known arrangement of EP-A-0819222 is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first electrical connector for the end-to-end connection of two electrical conductors;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the connector of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows the same portion of the connector of Figure 1, with a shearable threaded fastener engaged with the connector;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, after sufficient rotations of the shearable fastener for it to engage a conductor within the connector;
Figure 5 illustrates shearing of the shearable fastener following continued application of torque to the fastener;
Figure 6 shows the new shearable fastener according to the present invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, an electrical connector comprises a generally cylindrical aluminium body 1. Blind bores extend from each end of the body 1 towards the middle, each bore receiving the end of the respective first and second conductors 2,3. Four threaded bores 4a-d are provided in the wall of body 1. The threaded bores 4a-d receive shearable threaded fasteners (not shown in Figure 1) which engage the conductors 2,3 and hold them in position within the blind bores in the body 1.
Fasteners passing through the threaded bores 4a,4b engage the first conductor 2 and fasteners passing through the threaded bores 4c, 4d engage the second conductor 3. The connector thus far described is entirely conventional. Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the connector body 1 in the region of the threaded bore 4a. As can be seen, the upper portion of the bore 4a is provided with a countersink 5.
In use, shearable threaded fasteners 8 (see Figure 3) are engaged with the threaded bore 4a, and with the other three threaded bores 4b-d. As shown in Figure 3, the fastener 8 has a generally cylindrical shank 10 with a tip 11 formed into an obtuse point. The fastener 8 has a head 12 of hexagonal cross section. The cylindrical outer surface of the shank 10 is formed with a screw thread 13 and, superimposed on the thread, a series of spaced apart circumferential slits 14 which extend radially into the shank 10. The slits 14 are arranged and disposed to cause shearing of the shank 10 upon application of certain predetermined torques. The depth of the slits 14 decreases progressively from the tip 11 of the fastener 8 towards the head 12, such that the torque necessary to cause shearing of the shank 10 increases with distance from the tip 11.
The fastener 8 is engaged with the threaded bore 4a using a conventional drive tool such as a socket wrench which engages the head 12. For clarity, the drive tool is not shown in the drawings. The fastener 8 is rotated until its tip 11 engages the conductor 2 (see Figures 3 and 4).
Continued application of torque to the fastener 8 causes the fastener 8 to shear, as shown in Figure 5. Because the lower portions of the fastener 8 are supported externally by the walls of the threaded bore 41, and because the applied torque necessary to cause shearing increases with distance from the tip 11, the shank 10 shears preferentially at the first slit 14 which is external to the threaded bore 4a. This slit will generally be in the countersink 5 of the bore 4a. Occasionally, however, the fastener may shear at slit 14 located just internal to the threaded bore 4a. After shearing of the fastener 8, the remaining lower portion of the fastener 8 holds the conductor 2 securely in place.
In the case of a conductor of larger diameter than that shown in the drawings, the fastener 8 would extend a shorter distance into the connector bore before engaging the conductor. In this case, shearing would take place at a slit 14 nearer the tip 11 of the fastener 8. Because smaller conductors are less robust than larger conductors, it may be desirable for a lesser securing force to be applied to such a conductor. For this reason, the depth of the thread 13 is reduced slightly towards the head 12. This increases the frictional back-loading as the fastener 8 is progressively secured.
In that known arrangement, the weakenings in the fastener shank preferably comprise holes, grooves or slits formed in the side of the fastener. The progressive variation in the applied torque necessary to cause shearing can be achieved by control of the dimensions (width, depth) of the holes, grooves or slits constituting the weakenings. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the weakenings in the shank comprise a series of axially separated annular grooves. The depth of the grooves decreases from that nearest the tip of the shank to that nearest the head portion. In this arrangement, in the successive shear planes defined by the grooves, the effective diameter of the shank increases progressively from the tip of the shank to the head portion. Hence, the applied torque necessary to cause shearing increases from the tip of the shank to the head portion.
In contrast with the known arrangement described in the aforementioned EP-A-0819222 , the present invention, which is defined in either independent claim 1 or 2, achieves the progressive variation in the applied torque necessary to cause shearing by varying the radius at the bottom of each weakening hole, groove, or slit from that nearest the tip of the fastener shank to that nearest the head portion.
The radii may for example increase from very small or substantially zero in the hole, groove or slit nearest the tip, thus concentrating the shear force in a relatively thin planar cross-section of the shank, to progressively wider radii distributing the shear force over a thicker cross section, thus requiring application of greater torque to cause shearing.
This radius-controlled progression of the shear force according to the present invention may be used in combination with the depth-controlled progression of the aforementioned known arrangement. Alternatively, the radius-controlled progression of the shear force according to the present invention may be used alone in fasteners having substantially the same depth and shank diameter at each of the holes, grooves or slits forming the weakenings in the fastener shank.
One such fastener is shown by way of example in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the weakening grooves 21, 22 and 23 have substantially identical depth and width. The bottom of groove 21, nearest the tip 24 of the fastener, has a sharp profile approaching zero radius, while groove 23, nearest the head 25 of the fastener, has a noticeably greater, rounded radius, and groove 22 has an intermediate radius between that of the other two grooves. This progressive increase in radius from the groove nearest the tip to that nearest the head has the result that the applied torque necessary to cause the fastener to shear increases progressively from the shear plane furthest from the head (groove 21) to the shear plane nearest to the head (groove 23).
This radius-controlled progression of shear torque can be used alone satisfactorily for fasteners having three or four shear planes, but may become difficult to machine accurately enough to control the torque progression if five or more shear plane grooves are desired. In that case, combination with, and/or replacement by, some form of depth-controlled shear torque progression may be preferable. For example, it may be practicable to use grooves of different depths also having different radii, or to use some grooves of matching depths having different radii in combination with some grooves of different depths having matching radii. In one practical embodiment, the fastener is of brass and has a shank of nominal diameter 18mm. The fastener has an overall length of 41 mm, the lowermost slit being 12.25mm from the tip of the fastener. The slits are separated axially at 3.75mm centres and are all 0. 75mm wide.
The slits all have a depth of approximately 5mm such that in the plane defined by each slit the shank has an effective diameter of approximately 8mm. The shank is found to shear in that plane at an applied torque of approximately 35-41 N.m (26-30 ft.lbs) when the slit furthest from the head (nearest the tip) has a sharp point or substantially zero radius at its bottom. The succeeding slits have bottom radii which are successively increased leading to an increase in the torque at which the shank will shear by approximately 2.7 N.m (2 ft.lbs) from one shear plane to the next.
When the fastener of this invention is used in the aforementioned connectors, the first connector part and the second connector part may be separate components held in fixed relation, or may be formed integrally, eg as opposite sides of a tubular socket into which the conductor is inserted.
The fastener may bear directly on the conductor. Alternatively, the fastener may drive one or more intermediate components, eg, a pressure plate or an insulation piercing member, into engagement with the conductor.
The connector may contain a plurality of sockets for the connection together of a corresponding number of conductors (eg two or three conductors). Alternatively, the connector may have only a single socket and be for the connection of a single conductor to some other component. In a further alternative, a socket may receive more than one conductor.
Each conductor may be secured by a single fastener or by more than one, eg two, fasteners. Where there is more than one fastener, the threaded bores for the fasteners may be parallel and adjacent, or may have some other arrangement. For example, where the first and second connector part are opposite sides of a socket, each side may have one or more threaded bores for fasteners which secure the conductor to the opposite side of the socket.
The external surface of the connector may be curved or flat, but in either case the threaded bore is preferably countersunk, such that shearing preferentially takes place at a point below the outer surface of the connector. The spacing of the weakenings on the fastener shank is preferably such that at least one weakening is positioned within the countersink whenever the fastener engages a conductor.
In principle, any form of drive means may be used to rotate the fastener, but preferably the head portion of the fastener may have a head of non-circular form, eg a square or hexagonal head, such that positive drive may be transmitted to the fastener using a suitable tool such as a socket wrench. Alternatively, the head portion of the fastener may be formed with a bore or recess, eg of hexagonal or square section, with which an Allen (RTM) key or the like may be engaged. In such a case the bore or recess need not extend far along the axis of the fastener. However, if the bore or recess does extend a substantial distance along the axis of the fastener, the drive tool should not extend into the recess or bore so far that it supports internally any of the weakenings which define the shear planes.
The variations described in the aforementioned EP-A-0819222 may be used with the present invention, which is defined in either independent claim, further features thereof being disclosed in the dependent claims.

Claims

A shearable fastener having a threaded shank adapted for engagement with a threaded bore and a head portion (25) formed for engagement with a drive tool, the shank being formed with a series of axially separated weakenings (21, 22, 23) defining a series of shear planes, wherein the weakenings (21, 22, 23) are formed such that the applied torque necessary to cause the shank to shear increases progressively from the shear plane furthest from the head portion (25) to the shear plane nearest the head portion (25), wherein the weakenings (21, 22, 23) comprise holes, grooves or slits formed in the shank, characterized in that the radius at the bottom of the holes, grooves or slits is varied to produce or contribute to the said increase in shear torque, and that the weakenings (21, 22, 23) comprise annular grooves, the depth of the grooves being substantially the same from that furthest from the head portion (25) to that nearest the head portion (25).
An electrical connector comprising first and second connector parts between which an electrical conductor may be received, and a threaded fastener engageable with a threaded bore in the first connector part such that the fastener may engage the conductor, either directly or through an intermediate component, and secure the conductor against the second connector part, the fastener having a threaded shank adapted for engagement with a threaded bore and a head portion (25) having drive formations for engagement with a drive tool, the shank being formed with axially separated weakenings defining a series of shear planes, wherein said drive formations are formed such that, in use, a series of said weakenings (21, 22, 23) are incapable of being supported by the drive tool and the weakenings (21, 22, 23) in said series are formed such that the applied torque necessary to cause the shank to shear increases progressively from the shear plane furthest from the head portion (25) to the shear plane nearest the head portion (25), wherein the weakenings (21, 22, 23) comprise holes, grooves or slits formed in the shank, characterized in that the radius at the bottom of the holes, grooves or slits is varied to produce or contribute to the said increase in shear torque, and that the weakenings (21, 22, 23) comprise annular grooves, the depth of the grooves being substantially the same from that furthest from the head portion (25) to that nearest the head portion (25)..
A fastener or connector as claimed in any preceding claim which is formed such that the frictional back-loading between the shank and a threaded bore with which it is engaged increases the further the shank is engaged with the threaded bore.
A fastener or connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the depth of the thread of the threaded shank is progressively reduced as the thread approaches the head portion (25).
A fastener or connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the thread of the threaded shank is imperfectly formed in a region close to the head portion (25).
A fastener or connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the head portion (25) is of non-circular cross-section.
A fastener or connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the head portion (25) is of square or hexagonal cross-section.
A fastener or connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the head portion (25) is formed with a recess of non-circular cross- section.
A fastener or connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein one or more transverse bores or recesses is provided for engagement with the drive tool.
A connector as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein a plurality of threaded bores are provided for a corresponding number of the threaded fasteners to engage the conductor.
A connector as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the first connector part and the second connector part are separate components held in fixed relation.
A connector as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the first connector part and the second connector part are formed integrally.
A connector as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the or each fastener in use bears directly on the conductor.
A connector as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the or each fastener in use drives one or more intermediate components into engagement with the conductor.
A connector as claimed in of claims 2 to 9, which comprises a plurality of sockets for the connection of a corresponding number of conductors.
A connector as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, which comprises a single socket.
A connector as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the threaded bore or bores are countersunk.